Can Asperger's Syndrome be mistaken for high IQ?

Answer 1

I think it would be unlikely that Asperger's Syndrome (AS) would be misidentified as high IQ; however, a person with Asperger's Syndrome might also have a high IQ. A person with AS will have various symptoms, some of which might cause a misdiagnosis of an attention deficit disorder (ADD or ADHD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a learning disability, or other conditions. As an example, it seems unlikely that a medical professional would explain rarely speaking, an intense interest in doorknobs, lack of eye contact, or experiencing extreme anxiety when lights flash as having a high IQ.

A person can have both Asperger's Syndrome and a high IQ, only Asperger's Syndrome, or only a high IQ. Some people with Asperger's Syndrome have a high IQ. Most people with a high IQ do not have Asperger's Syndrome.